By Kevin Dillon | Comments Off on Bruins take tough winger Cody Payne with second fifth-round pick

The Bruins used their second fifth-round pick (145th overall) to take physical winger Cody Payne.

Payne, who was spent most of last season with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, is known more for his fists than his offensive skill, as he only totaled five goals and 11 assists in 60 games last season, but recorded 107 penalty minutes. He is 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds at only 18 years old.

The Bruins selected forward Seth Griffith with their first fifth-round pick (131st overall) in the draft Saturday. The pick was acquired in a trade with the Lightning, when the Bruins dealt the rights to Benoit Pouliot for the pick and Michel Ouellet.

Griffith led the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in goals and points in the 2011-12 season, recording 45 goals and 85 points in 68 games. He also led his team in points during the playoffs, when the Knights were runners-up for the Memorial Cup. The 19-year-old Wallaceburg, Ontario, native is 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds.

Griffith played alongside former Bruins second-round pick Jared Knight last season in London.

The Bruins selected defenseman Matt Grzelcyk with their third-round pick (85th overall) in the draft on Saturday.

Grzelcyk, who last played with the U.S. National Team Development Program, will be an incoming freshman at Boston University in the fall. Grzeclyk was ranked the No. 177 North American skater in April. Last year with Team USA, the 5-foot-9, 170 pound defenseman scored a goal and 10 assists in 24 games.

The selection of Grzelcyk continues a recent trend of Boston acquiring undersized college defensemen, like signing of Michigan State defenseman Torey Krug, and the trade for BU defenseman David Warsofsky.

The Bruins selected goaltender Malcolm Subban with their first round pick (24th overall) of the NHL draft Friday.

Subban played for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League last year and was the top-ranked North American goaltending prospect by NHL Central Scouting. In the 2011-12 season with the Bulls, Subban recorded a 2.50 GAA and a .923 save percentage in 39 games played. The Rexdale, Ontario, native is 6-foot-1 and weighs 188 pounds.

Malcolm is the brother of Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban, who is a common antagonist for Boston fans in the Original Six rivalry. After Boston selected him, Malcolm did not shy away from the rivalry with his brother.

‘The rivalry’s just about to begin,’ Subban said, according to The Boston Globe. ‘I don’t know if he’s going to like me too much. To be honest, I never really liked him too much.’

By Kevin Dillon | Comments Off on NHL draft: Which players experts mock to Bruins

The Bruins are no longer defending Stanley Cup champions, so it’s time for them to start retooling for another run at the Cup. The season just ended, but the work does not end for the B’s front office, which will be using the NHL draft on Friday night to improve the organization by bringing in young talent.

Peter Chiarelli raved about the number of top-level defense prospects, but the Bruins will likely take the best player available in the first round thanks to the balance in the organization right now.

Here is a look at some of the prospects that experts have been projecting to the Bruins in their mock drafts.

Muir: I have a feeling the Bruins trade this pick and move down unless the draft unwinds in such a way that a certain defenseman drops in their lap (it is thought that they covet Matthew Finn). But if that doesn’t happen, Laughton plays a classic black-and-gold style that should make him a popular choice. His offense hasn’t yet met the expectations set for a guy who was the third overall pick in the OHL draft, but he’s a safe call because he is so competitive every time he steps on the ice. “He’s motivated, sharp on the draw, a great defensive player. He works the body well and will drop the mitts when necessary,” one scout said, adding, “he’s a great team guy.” His upside projects to a Dave Bolland-type, but if his offense doesn’t come around, he’d slot perfectly into Chris Kelly‘s spot a few years down the road.

Scianitti: With Dougie Hamilton likely to move up to the big club this year, Thrower could be the new project. He was in the top 10 in scoring among WHL defenceman this season, and also showed an aggressive edge with 103 penalty minutes.

The Senators forward delivered a hit to the head of Corvo at the 5:00 mark in the third period in Saturday night’s game in Ottawa. Turris received a two-minute boarding minor for the hit. The league’s Department of Player Safety held a disciplinary hearing for Turris but resulted in no suspension.

Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan said in a statement, “Because there was enough head contact on this hit, the Department of Player Safety felt it was necessary to convene a hearing to examine the play further. After reviewing the video extensively as we heard Turris’ explanation of how the play developed, we concluded that the head was not targeted intentionally or even recklessly and that the circumstances surrounding the hit contributed significantly to the amount of head contact that resulted. We therefore have decided that there will be no supplemental discipline added to the penalty assessed on the play.”

With a series-high six points apiece, Michael Ryder, Mark Recchi and David Krejci have lead the way offensively for Boston, and the Bruins will certainly be counting on their big guns with the title on the line. However, Stanley Cup Game 7 history has shown that big plays often come from unexpected places. Here’s just a pair of examples.

The last time the Stanley Cup finals saw a Game 7 was in 2009, when the Penguins shocked the Red Wings in Detroit for their first title in 17 years. Marc-Andre Fleurystole the show in net, but it wasn’t Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin providing the offense. Instead, Maxime Talbot, a grinder who never had more than 13 goals in a season, scored twice for the Penguins in the 2-1 victory.

Back in 2003, the Devils relied on former benchwarmer Michael Rupp for all three points in their 3-0 title-clinching win over the Ducks. The forward had been a healthy scratch since March, and didn’t hit the ice until Game 4 of the finals when Joe Nieuwendyk went down with an injury. Rupp had one assist through his first three games, but erupted for a goal and two assists in the decisive Game 7.

So who might play that role for the Bruins? Rookie Tyler Seguin has been relatively quiet with just one assist after breaking out in the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning, while Adam McQuaid, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton have stayed off the score sheet through the last six games.